29.08.2012
Mr Graham Richards Installed as a Lay Canon at Armagh Cathedral
Mr Graham Richards was installed as a Lay Canon of Armagh at a special service of Evensong in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh on Sunday August 26. The service was led by the Dean of Armagh, The Very Revd Gregory Dunstan, along with the Archbishop of Armagh, The Most Revd Alan Harper, OBE, who had appointed Mr Richards as a lay Canon of Armagh, succeeding to the stall formerly occupied by the late Canon J.L.B. Deane.
The installation was attended by a large number of Mr Richards’ friends, reflecting his wide range of interests. Archbishop Harper spoke of his great pleasure in having been able to appoint Mr Richards to the lay canonry, saying: ‘Mr Richards has given distinguished and varied service to the Church of Ireland for many years from his time as Chairman of the Youth Council to his deep involvement with the Representative Church Body Executive and its Committees and in the field of education. He continues to serve the Church of Ireland with great dedication as Chairman of the Allocations Committee. I am delighted that he now takes up this stall.’
Mr Richards, who was educated at The High School and Trinity College Dublin, is a consultant with the law firm Matheson Ormsby Prentice in Dublin, where has was a partner for 31 years. He advises clients from all sections of the Irish and international community, including charities and trustees as well as individuals. A Notary Public, Commissioner for Oaths and member of the Law Society of Ireland, in 2004 he was appointed by the Government as a Commissioner for Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland.
Having been a parishioner of Sandford Parish all his life, Mr Richards is a member of the Dublin Diocesan and General Synods. He has been a member of several of the Church’s important central committees since the 1980s, having first been elected to the Representative Church Body in 1982. He is currently Chairman of the RB’s Allocations Committee, and is a member of its Executive Committee, having served for the past 25 years.He was involved in Church youth work from 1966, culminating in his election as Chairman of the Church of Ireland Youth Council from 1979 to 1982. He served on the General Synod Board of Education for 15 years, and is Chairman of the Incorporated Society, which comprises Bandon Grammar School, Dundalk Grammar School, Kilkenny College and Sligo Grammar School. He has been a Governor of Wilson’s Hospital School since 1979. Mr Richards also plays a prominent part in the work of Protestant Aid and the Brabazon Trust, where has been Chairman since 1986.
Armagh Cathedral has six Lay Canons – the first were appointed in 1997 and Mr Richards is the eleventh to take up office.
Mr Richards is pictured above with the Archbishop and the Dean at the service (photo: Revd Gerald Macartney).